Central Michigan University Athletics
Field Hockey Wraps Up 2003 Season
11/11/2003 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Nov. 11, 2003
The Central Michigan University field hockey team (9-11, 6-4 Mid-American Conference) finished its season last weekend after being eliminated from the MAC tournament in the semifinals.
In the tournament, CMU beat Miami in the quarterfinals, 7-2. The match was highlighted by a four-goal performance for senior forward Tarah Trottier (Kitchener, Ont.). In the semifinals, the Chippewas fell to eventual champions Louisville, 1-0.
HEAD COACH FREESE ON THE SEASON - "I was happy on how our team played the second-half of the season and hopefully that will carry into next season. I think we struggled at the beginning of the season because of the difficult schedule we played and having a defense that had not played much together. Once that group got some game experience together, our team started to play well.
"We are disappointed with how the season ended and will miss our six seniors, but I think we have the tools in this program right now to contend for a MAC Championship next season."
SENIOR SWAN SONG - CMU's six seniors played their final match last weekend. The seniors are goalkeeper Laura Plese (Lindenhurst, Ill.), goalkeeper Kerri Krasnow (Eloit, Maine), midfielder Allison Foland (Springfield, Va.), backer Katie Coccia (Rochester, N.Y.), backer Jenny Rosen (Antioch, Ill.), and forward Tarah Trottier.
"Our seniors have provided great leadership for our squad this season and are a main reason for our success," said head coach Cristy Freese. "Even though not all six seniors started, they all played an important role on the team.
"Tarah sparked our offense all season, Allison was an excellent leader at midfield, and Katie anchored the defense. Laura was solid in goal early in the season, Jenny was an excellent defensive backup for us, and Kerri was a consummate team player who did whatever was asked to help the team succeed."
DYNAMIC DUO - With Tarah Trottier's four goals against Miami and Kristy Reed's (South Wales, N.Y./Jr.) single tally, the two became the best offensive duo in CMU history. Trottier finished the season with 16 goals and 36 points while Reed had 12 goals and 30 points. That beats the previous best by teammates Brianne Tallinger and Kari Labeta in 1997 when the duo combined for 26 goals. Reed and Trottier combined to score almost two-thirds of CMU's goals this season, scoring 28 of the team's 48 goals.
BREAKING INTO THE RECORDS BOOK - Trottier's goals and points this season rank third best in CMU history. Reed's numbers place her in a tie for sixth in goals and points. In career numbers, Trottier finished her career ranked 10th in goals. Reed sits in a tie for sixth in goals and ninth in points. Allison Foland's eight assists also put her in the record books, ranking eighth in assists for a season.
ALL-MAC - CMU had three members named to the All-MAC teams as announced by the conference on Friday night.
Two Chippewas were named to the first-team and one was named to the second team. Kristy Reed and Tarah Trottier were first-team honorees and Amy Kauffman (Dauphin, Pa./Jr.) was named to the second team.
This is the second-straight season that Reed has earned first-team honors. Reed had 12 goals this season, tied for fifth best in CMU history, and has six assists for a total of 30 points. She ranks fourth in the MAC in both points and goals. She also leads the MAC in shots with 106.
Trottier has been an offensive force for CMU during the conference season, scoring eight of her 16 goals in MAC play. Trottier had four assists and 36 points. In CMU history, she ranks third in both goals and points in a season. She is tied for tops in the MAC in goals and second in points.
Kauffman has anchored the CMU defense, limiting CMU's conference opponents to 18 goals in 11 matches. Her play was outstanding in the second half of MAC season when CMU allowed only four goals in five matches. She also leads the nation in defensive saves with 14.
MAC TOURNAMENT RECAP - CMU went 1-1 in the MAC Tournament last weekend, beating Miami, 7-2, and falling to Louisville, 1-0.
CMU rolled over Miami in the quarterfinals of the MAC Tournament Friday afternoon, 7-2. Scoring for CMU were: Tarah Trottier with four goals, Alicia Balanesi (Hanover, Pa./Fr.) with two goals, and Kristy Reed with one.
The match was scoreless in the first 20 minutes when Balanesi got CMU on the board with a goal in the 20th minute assisted by Allison Foland. Trottier got her first of the game eight minutes later with an assist to Foland. Balanesi scored again at the 32:34 mark, again unassisted, to give CMU a three-goal lead heading into halftime.
Miami got on the board 49 seconds into the second half with a goal by Angie Snedden. CMU answered back four minutes later when Trottier got her second of the match. That goal was assisted by Reed. Reed got an unassisted goal of her own at the 45:35 mark.
Trottier got CMU's first hat trick of the season with a goal at the 47:16 mark, assisted by Reed again. Miami got its second goal of the match at the 63:09 mark with a goal by Jessica Saling, and Trottier finished the scoring with her fourth goal of the match at the 68:05 mark, this one assisted by Cortney Blanchard (Capetown, South Africa/Fr.).
Danielle Frank (Williamsville, N.Y./Fr.) played the first 54 minutes in net for CMU, allowing only one goal while picking up the victory. Laura Plese entered the match with 12 minutes remaining, allowing one goal and making three saves. Kerri Krasnow played the final four minutes in net for the Chippewas.
CMU fell to Louisville in the semifinals on Saturday afternoon, 1-0.
The two squads played to a scoreless tie at the end of the first half. Jessica Louis-Javelet posted the match-winner with a goal four minutes into the second half. Desire Miller assisted on her goal.
Danielle Frank played the entire match in net, making five saves. MAC "Player of the Year" Christy Hershey made eight saves in net for Louisville.
CMU outshot the Cardinals, 14-13, while Louisville held the advantage in penalty corners, 7-6.
